Ok this will be the last post about this lecture, i promise.
I had to highlight the themes throughout these posts, because i think it is important to know what is going in the world at this critical point in time, when world leaders are using a new language in their negotiations.
Yes, this blog is still NOT about politics, but this is a harmless and instructive deviation.
Rami Khoury presented 5 Rs that define the relationship between the US and the Middle East and help understand how soft power can be more beneficial than an otherwise antagonistic approach.
Rebirth: Attempt to recreate new societies especially when people are not satisfied with the current configuration.
Respect: If you don’t like somebody, you don’t have to fight with him, just learn to engage.
Resistance: Understand that certain groups’ mission is resisting hegemony.
Rights: All sides have to recognize the rights of each other.
Reciprocity: A key to making a breakthrough. All people have to be dealt with with the same standards.
No country has rights over another one.
(I hope this means that Lebanese passports holders among other underprivileged passports will be spared from the “random” security checks at airports)
Now, said Rami Khoury, is the end of an era of confrontation and occupation. The US has realized that it does not generate fear nor respect in the world anymore and there is an effort to bring in a new dialogue.
Rami Khoury engaging with the audience at the end of his talk
How does this change relate to the American University of Beirut? In fact, the talk is entitled: From Daniel Bliss to Barack Obama, American Soft Power in the Middle East
Daniel Bliss, the founder of AUB, has created a model through which the best of American values was taken to the Middle East. Values such as: determinatoin to be open to all kinds of people , of all faiths, nationalities and religions.
Such values have also found their place in the While House with Obama. From 1860s, when AUB started to 2009, when Obama was elected, there has been a projection of American values into the Middle East. The reciprocity and the acceptance of those universal values through AUB now need to happen throughout the world.
A person in the audience suggested a 6th R which is Reeducation. This stemmed from the lack of knowledge in the US about the Middle East and the biased sources of information that Americans are exposed to, which generate misunderstanding.
At the end of the talk, AUB Alumni Association, NY branch had a mini-reception prepared for the Alumni and the guest speakers. And of course there was food and drink, sodas, wine and even Arak, a national beverage in Lebanese which is an aniseed-flavored alcoholic drink.
AUB Alumni reception after the talk
Cute mini-sandwiches
The legendary hummus
Traditional Kibbes
